Former Manchester United and Ireland star Roy Keane is suing the Irish bookmaker Paddy Power over an image rights issue, as rumors start circulating that he could be in line for the Irish manager’s job if Martin O’Neill switches to Leicester.
Former Manchester United star Roy Keane once said that when he walked onto a pitch it was war. He wasn’t wrong. Some of his matches contained more Ka-Pow’s than an episode of Batman.
He’s at it again.
This time off the pitch.
Keane is suing the Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, for infringing his image rights, after they super-imposed his face over Mel Gibson’s William Wallace character, from the classic movie Braveheart, on a billboard slapped on the side of a 40 ft. trailer parked outside the Aviva Stadium during Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Scotland last month.
The advert takes the piss out of Scotland’s vote against independence calling them ‘wee pussies’ and stating ‘you may take our points but at least we have our freedom.’
It’s believed the 43-year old is in line to pick up €100,000 in damages. It’s all gravy for Paddy Power, who will no doubt still profit from the exercise after news outlets all over the world send images of the advert into orbit.
It seems strange that a man who once said to former Irish manager Mick McCarthy: “The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country and you’re not even Irish you English c***!” should have an image rights issue, but maybe there is more than meets the eye?
Keane plays the role of Spock for the Irish National side, and rumors are beginning to circulate that Martin O’Neill is the number one target for Leicester City, who are managerless after sacking Nigel Pearson.
If O’Neill leaves then that will allow Keane to become Captain Kirk. Image rights then become everything to the man who was one of the greatest players ever to grace the stage at the Theatre of Dreams.
Sources close to O’Neill have been quoted as saying he would like to take Keane with him should the switch to the King Power Stadium happen, but Keane is not a bridesmaid. He is the main fucking man. His heart is free and he will have the courage to follow it.
